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Thomas powering surge by Bruins

Nov 8, 2008 - 3:01 PM Buffalo (8-2-3) at Boston (7-3-3) 7:00 p.m. EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Tim Thomas is the biggest reason the Boston Bruins are threatening the top spot in the Northeast Division.

The goaltender will likely be in net on Saturday when the Bruins host the first-place Buffalo Sabres.

Thomas leads the NHL with a .944 save percentage and owns a 1.85 goals-against average - the second-best mark in the league. The 34-year-old is 4-1-0 in his last five starts to help Boston move two points behind the Sabres in the Northeast.

The Bruins have won five of their last six games overall with Thomas posting consecutive road shutouts against the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks during that stretch.

Thomas, who was inexplicably left off the league's All-Star ballot, will have to be at his best against the Sabres.

Buffalo is 4-0-2 on the road this season, joining the Montreal Canadiens as the only teams yet to lose in regulation away from home.

However, Buffalo is coming off a 5-4 overtime setback to the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday.

After posting back-to-back shutouts, Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller had his scoreless streak snapped at 149 minutes, 11 seconds when Thrashers center Jason Williams netted the first of two tallies on the night early in the first period.